Police personnel have not reported to their assigned outposts even after nearly a day since the newly appointed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Moynul Islam instructed them to amid nationwide unrest.
"All police personnel are being instructed to return to their stations within 24 hours," IGP Moynul Islam said during a press briefing on Wednesday (7 August).
However, visiting multiple police stations no persnnel from the force were seen in their outposts on Thursday (8 August).
Following the ouster of Hasina-led Awami League government on 5 August, hundreds of police stations and installations across Dhaka and other districts have been vandalised and set on fire. Police Headquarters also fell victim to arson.
Police had spearheaded the Hasina regime's efforts to suppress the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement protests.
Faced with threats to their lives, a faction of the police announced a strike under the banner of 'Bangladesh Police Subordinate Employees'.
In this volatile environment, significant changes were made to the top positions within the police force, including the IGP, the Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), and the Director-General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
Students clean police stations, Ansar perform duties
At Adabor Police Station under DMP’s Tejgaon division, it was observed that none had returned following the IGP’s directive.
Eight Ansar members were found performing security duties. Inside the station, students from various educational institutions were engaged in cleaning up the debris. Ali Rup, General Secretary of the Shyamoli Housing First Project, brought several workers to assist the students.
"We all know what happens in society without the police. There have been no police in the stations for four to five days. We are having to stay up all night to maintain security," he said.
Commenting on the students' assistance, he added, "We are cleaning the station collectively so that the police officers, upon their return, at least have a place to sit."
At Adabor Police Station, students from institutions such as City College and Residential Model College were found cleaning various rooms.
However, the situation at Mohammadpur Police Station was notably different.
The station remained in its previous state, with three Ansar members guarding the gate.
Inside, a police inspector was present, but he was not from Mohammadpur Police Station.
Instead, he had been sent by senior officials from Police Headquarters to assess the damage.
Inspector Jahangir Arif stated, "So far, no one has come to the station except the Ansar members. I have been sent by senior officials to report on the damage and current condition."
Subedar Enamul Haque, responsible for security at the station, said, "We have been on duty since midnight on 6th August. No police officers have arrived yet."
